Affiliate Profile

Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle

Inspired by a desire to preserve handmade objects in a time of increasing industrialization, historian and archaeologist Henry Mercer began collecting representative objects in the late 19th century. After amassing a collection of almost 30,000 items ranging from hand tools to horse-drawn vehicles, he founded the Mercer Museum to share his vision with the public. The Mercer Museum of the Bucks County Historical Society has collaborated with the Smithsonian on previous projects and is interested in hosting Smithsonian collections in the future.